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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Good Deeds

We have
long been advocates for the Land & Water Conservation Fund. LWCF has
provided funding for about 70% of our fishing access sites, given us permanent
access to quality hunting grounds like the Marshall Block & Fish Creek in
the west and Tenderfoot in the Belt Mountains of Central Montana. All of these
projects and acquisitions work to ensure vibrant wildlife populations on the
most important habitats of Montana.

LWCF
enjoys widespread support in Montana. Now, our congressional delegation is
united in ensuring that the Land & Water Conservation Fund continues to
work for Montanans. Yesterday,
Congressman Steve Daines issued a press release calling attention to the
Fund:

“As our
nation continues down the path towards economic recovery, LWCF should be
adequately funded to ensure that it plays the strongest possible role in
revitalizing local communities,” Daines wrote. “America’s outdoor recreation,
conservation and preservation economies contribute $1.06 trillion to the
nation’s economy each year and support 9.4 million American jobs. Support for
public lands among the American public remains consistently and overwhelmingly
strong.”

This
follows closely on the heels of Senator John Walsh’s co-sponsorship of S 338,
the full funding and reauthorization of the Land & Water Conservation Fund.
Senator Walsh, in a
press release, had this to say:

“In Montana, we have a proud outdoor heritage that
brings JOBS and billions of dollars into our state every year,” Walsh said. “We
value our natural resources and public lands, and preserving access for all
Montanans and visitors from around the country. With tourism as one of our
state's largest economic drivers, it is important to take responsibility to
fully fund the LWCF.”

Montana’s Senior Senator, Jon Tester, has been an advocate for
public access to public lands and the Land & Water Conservation Fund for
his entire time in the Senate. His “Making Public Lands Public Act,” which
would provide 1.5% of all LWCF funds to be dedicated to unlocking land-locked
public land has earned broad, bi-partisan support as well. Recently,
Congressman Daines introduced similar legislation into the House.

It’s not often you get all three of Montana’s congressional
delegation on the same page. With LWCF, however, it’s a no-brainer. Public
Lands are huge economic drivers and assets for Montana’s diverse economy.
Access to public land is at a premium. Only by working together and fighting
for constituents who hunt, fish, hike, play and work on these public lands are
we able to continue the promise first made in 1965 when Congress passed the
Land & Water Conservation Fund enabling act.

Access matters. So does habitat conservation. Our Senators and
our Representative are working together to ensure that Montanans continue to
have both through the Land & Water Conservation Fund. That is something to
truly celebrate.

The only piece of the puzzle missing is support of Full Funding
& Reauthorization from Congressman Daines. When that comes, we’ll be dancing
a jig on Higgins Avenue.